Yard Assistant

About the Role

You’ll be joining Donnington Grove Veterinary Group, a busy equine hospital nestled in Newbury, West Berkshire—a vibrant market town with excellent London connections (just 45 minutes by train to Paddington) and stunning countryside on your doorstep at the edge of the North Wessex Downs AONB. This is a full-time, temporary 6-month contract role working 40 hours per week across a variety of shifts over 5 days, including weekends and bank holidays on a rota. Overtime is paid for weekend work, so your contribution is properly recognised.

You’ll be part of a fantastic team at a facility with RCVS Tier 3 hospital status, supported by branches at Tadley and Thatcham—both fully equipped for surgical procedures and digital diagnostic imaging. This is hands-on work in a fast-paced environment, but you won’t be left to figure it out alone—full training will be provided to ensure you can carry out all duties confidently and safely.

Key Responsibilities

• Daily horse care including feeding, mucking out, and grooming to the highest standards
• Yard maintenance to maintain a safe, clean environment for horses and staff
• Admitting and discharging in-patients with accurate completion of client paperwork
• Working as part of a collaborative team to support the hospital’s daily operations

Requirements

• Strong horse handling skills and experience working with a variety of horse temperaments
• Genuine passion for equine welfare and commitment to providing excellent care
• Ability to work efficiently in a busy, fast-paced team environment
• Reliability and flexibility to work across varying shift patterns, including weekends and bank holidays

Benefits

• Competitive salary up to £26,528 depending on experience
• 6.6 weeks annual leave
• Additional annual leave for your birthday added to your holiday allowance
• Enhanced family-friendly policies including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee wellbeing initiatives
• Non-accidental injury support
• Learning and development opportunities through the IVC Evidensia Academy
• Pawsome Benefits—reward gateway with discounts and cashback at 100+ retailers
• Pension scheme
• Discounted staff pet care
• Paid overtime for weekend work

About the Practice

Donnington Grove Veterinary Group is an established equine hospital based in Newbury, Berkshire, with RCVS Tier 3 hospital status. The main facility operates alongside branches in Tadley and Thatcham, all fully equipped for surgical procedures and advanced digital diagnostic imaging. Part of IVC Evidensia, the practice combines a strong tradition of equine care with modern facilities and a supportive team environment.

The practice is ideally located in West Berkshire’s thriving Newbury, offering staff easy access to excellent local amenities, restaurants, and the beautiful North Wessex Downs countryside—perfect for work-life balance.